There’s a certain irony – and beauty – in how someone from the frozen landscapes of Krasnoyarsk manages to capture the essence of the tropics so vividly. Artem Stan’s “Exotic Cruise EP”, out on OWL Recordings — the white-label offshoot of the ever-reliable OPIA Records – feels like a sun-soaked daydream refracted through frosted glass. It’s nostalgia for a paradise never quite visited: warm, wistful, and touched with the surreal melancholy of distance. Across four tracks, Artem merges Balearic sentimentality, early progressive euphoria, and Deep-House psychedelia into a cohesive journey that hums with emotional depth and dancefloor instinct.
“Dreams (Primates Version)” opens the EP like a soft sunrise over the sea. It’s pure Balearic bliss, balancing lush pads with shuffling percussion and acid-flecked melodies that shimmer just below the surface. The track feels timeless – a conversation between Café del Mar’s golden era and the crisp precision of modern production. There’s movement without rush, joy without excess – the mark of a producer who understands that euphoria works best when it’s earned, not imposed.
The A2, the original version, cut shifts gears into progressive territory, where tension is sculpted patiently and the payoff feels almost cinematic. A steady, muscular beat builds the foundation, while airy chords creep in from the edges, swelling into near-anthemic territory without ever tipping into cliché. It’s that elusive sweet spot – classy, driving, and deeply satisfying.
On the flip, “Forest Games” dives deeper into dream-state territory – a Deep-House gem that bathes in atmosphere. Artem layers warm textures and hypnotic pads over a steady groove that slowly unravels into a lysergic moment of acid-tinged revelation. The result feels like losing yourself in motion – like watching sunlight ripple on the water mid-trip, every sound melting gently into the next.
“Something Sexy” closes the record with pure charm. A Proto-House cut dressed in Chi-town flair, its chunky rhythm and sensual swing recall a time when House music still carried a certain innocence – raw, sexy, and sincere. It’s the kind of track that could’ve floated out of a Goa beach bar before the scene lost its soul, all smiles and slow motion beneath the palms.
“Exotic Cruise EP” is more than just a promising debut – it’s a fully formed statement from a producer with a distinct voice. Artem Stan translates longing, distance, and imagination into rhythm, offering a record that feels both escapist and deeply human. Big ups to OPIA and OWL for once again giving space to an artist whose sound deserves to travel far beyond the tundra.
Words by Pasha Pliskin
Torture the Artist 